A MAN in Dunfermline suffered a "horrendous injury" after being seriously assaulted in the town centre on New Year's Day.

The 21-year-old victim sustained a significant injury to his neck in the Monastery Street area of the town between 4am and 5am on Tuesday, January 1.

Detective Sergeant Christopher Dow of Dunfermline CID said: “This has been a particularly frightening experience for the victim and he has suffered a horrendous injury. The nature of the injury would suggest that the individual responsible has used a weapon of some description and it is through sheer fortune that the consequences have not been even more severe."

Police say the person responsible for the assault is an Asian man in his mid-20s.

He is described as being of medium build and around 5 feet 9 to 6 feet tall.

The man had dark hair, a trimmed dark beard and was wearing a grey or dark coloured tracksuit.

Detective Sergeant Dow added: "If you were in the area early on Tuesday morning and have seen any persons or vehicles that appeared unusual, or if you have any CCTV which may assist in our inquiries, please contact police.

"Due to it being Hogmanay there have been a number of social events in the area, so if you have been using your phone to capture footage or photos and have images of a man matching the description, I would urge you to please call us.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident 2038 of 1st January, or contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.